Effect of Shortening Day Length on Immune Function in Siberian Hamsters

In order to understand the effect of gradual changes in photoperiod on immune function, adult female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were randomly divided into the control group (12L:12D, Con, n = 11) and the shortening day length group (SD, n = 11), in which day length was reduced from 12:12 h to 8:16 h light-dark cycle at the pace of half an hour every week. Meanwhile the winter immunoenhancement hypothesis, which holds that animals’ immune function would be enhanced in winter or winter-like conditions, was tested. Gradual shortening day length had no effect on body mass and body composition including wet carcass mass, the subcutaneous, retroperitoneal, mesenteric and total body fat masses in Siberian hamsters. The masses of liver and small intestine with contents were higher in the SD group than in the Con group, however other organ masses such as brain, heart, kidney and so on did not differ between the two groups. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response after 24 h of PHA injection was enhanced by the shortening photoperiod, which supported the winter immunoenhancement hypothesis. The masses of spleen and thymus, white blood cells, bacteria killing capacity indicative of innate immunity were not affected, which did not support this hypothesis. In summary, gradually decrease in day length increased cellular immunity, but had no effect on other immunological parameters in Siberian hamsters.

Effects of diet shift on the gut microbiota of the critically endangered Siberian Crane

Wetlands worldwide have suffered from serious degradation and transformation,leading to waterbirds increasingly dependent on agricultural fields for feeding.Although gut microbiota is an essential component of host health,the impacts of agricultural feeding on gut microbial community and pathogen transmission remain poorly understood.To fill this knowledge gap,we used 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the fecal bacterial community of the Siberian Crane(Grus leucogeranus),a Critically Endangered species,that recently has shifted its foraging from largely Vallisneria tubers in Poyang Lake natural wetlands to crops(i.e.,rice seeds and lotus rhizomes) in agricultural fields.We compared the bacterial communities between tuber foraging cranes and crop foraging cranes.Our results indicate that diet shift greatly modified the gut microbiota diversity,composition and function.Crop foraging cranes had higher microbiota diversity than tuber foraging cranes.The alteration in microbiota composition and function were correlated with change in food nutrition.Tuber(i.e.,high in fiber)foraging cranes were enriched in Clostridiaceae with fiber digestion ability,and crop(i.e.,high in carbohydrate)foraging cranes were enriched in bacterial taxa and functions related to carbohydrate metabolism.The flexibility of gut microbiota might enhance Siberian Cranes’ ability to adapt to novel diet and environment.However,many enriched families in crop foraging cranes were pathogenic bacteria,which might increase the susceptibility of cranes to pathogenic infection.Special caution should be taken to agricultural feeding waterbirds in Asia,where the widespread poultry-keeping in over-harvested rice fields might increase the transmission probability of pathogenetic bacteria among wild birds,domestic poultry and humans.

Larch growth across thermal and moisture gradients in the Siberian Mountains

Climate-driven changes in the thermal and moisture regimes may variously influence different tree species growth and ranges.We hypothesize that drought resistant Siberian larch(Larix sibirica Ledeb.)and precipitation-sensitive Siberian pine(Pinus sibirica Du Tour)responded differently to climate change along the elevational thermal and precipitation gradients.We studied the influence of air temperature,precipitation,soil moisture,and atmospheric drought(indicated by the drought index SPEI)on larch and pine growth along the southward megaslope of the West Sayan Ridge.We found that since 2000 climate change resulted in increasing larch and pine radial growth index(GI)(c.1.5–3times)within treeline(2000–2300 m)and timberline(1900–2000 m)ecotones,i.e.within high precipitation zones.Within the forest-steppe ecotone(1100–1200 m)in which L.sibirica is the only species,larch GI stagnated or even decreased.The total forested area increased since 2000 up to+50%in the high elevations,whereas in the low elevations(<1400 m)area changes were negligible.Within treeline and timberline,trees’GI was stimulated by summer temperature.Meanwhile,temperature increase in early spring reduces GI due to living tissue activation followed by tissue damage by desiccation.Within forest-steppe,larch radial growth was mostly dependent on soil moisture.Warming shifted dependence on moisture to the early dates of the growing period.Acute droughts decreased GI within forest-steppe as well as within treeline,whereas the drought influence on both species within highlands was insignificant.Within forest-steppe seedlings establishment was poor,whereas it was successful within treeline and timberline.Current climate change leads to stagnation or even decrease in Larix sibirica growth in the southern lowland habitat.In combination with poor seedlings establishment,reduced growth threatens the transformation of open lowland forests into forest-steppe and steppe communities.Meanwhile,in the highlands warming facilitated the growth of Siberian larch and pine and the increase of forested area.

Precursory atmospheric teleconnection patterns for strong Siberian High events

本文利用日本55年逐日再分析资料,发现在SH异常增强前,有三种不同的大气遥相关型前兆信号,即斯堪的纳维亚(SCA)型,西太平洋(WP)型,极地-欧亚(POL)型据此,本文将异常增强的SH分为对应的三类事件.合成结果表明,三类事件在典型环流特征和对东亚气温的影响上存在着明显的不同.具体而言,SCA类事件主要表现为在欧亚中高纬度上自西向东的波列异常,WP类事件表现为环流异常自下游太平洋/俄罗斯远东地区向西发展的特征,POL型事件的显著信号则来源于自极区向南移动的反气旋式环流异常.在对东亚地表气温的影响上,SCA类与POL类事件类似,它们均可造成大范围的低温异常.而WP类仅在我国北方和东部地区造成强度较弱的地表气温异常,但该异常的持续性特征较明显。

The Relationship between Siberian High Anomaly and SSTA

By using the monthly average dataset of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and the monthly average ocean temperature data of NOAA satellite center,we analyzed and probed into the relationship between Siberian high anomaly and SSTA,and found that the sea area anomaly is a bigger area,which have greater effect on the variation of Siberian high.The results indicated that there was a wonderful contemporaneously correlation between the area and intensity index of Siberian high and ocean temperature.The correlation type of the synchronous correlative areas between the central intensity index of Siberian high and ocean temperature have structural similarities with the correlative field's structure of area index,but the positive correlative regions expanded,and the intensity of negative correlative regions weakened significantly.The correlation among the area index of Siberian high and the central intensity index,as well as the ocean temperature anomaly of the North Atlantic during spring,autumn and summer of the same year was remarkable.The area index and the central intensity index of Siberian high anomaly have obvious correlation with the ocean temperature anomaly of Southwest Atlantic Ocean during spring,summer and autumn,however,they have apparent seasonal differences with the prominent negative correlative areas of subtropical South Indian Ocean and tropical South Pacific Ocean as well as Southwest Atlantic Ocean.The correlative index of area anomaly is greater than those of intensity anomaly.Larger impact on the variability of Siberian high anomaly are the SSTA of subtropical South Indian Ocean,mid and high latitudes of North Pacific Ocean,North Atlantic,tropical South Pacific Ocean,Southwest Atlantic Ocean,etc.several areas.

Possible Impacts of Winter Arctic Oscillation on Siberian High, the East Asian Winter Monsoon and Sea-Ice Extent

Using the NCEP/ NCAR reanalysis dataset covering a 40-year period from January 1958 to December 1997, sea surface temperature (1950-1992), and monthly sea-ice concentration dataset for the period from 1953 to 1995, we investigate connections between winter Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Siberian high (SH), the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM), and winter sea-ice extent in the Barents Sea. The results indicate that winter AO not only influences climate variations in the Arctic and the North Atlantic sector, but also shows possible effects on winter SH, and further influences EAWM, When winter AO is in its positive phase, both of winter SH and the EAWM are weaker than normal, and air temperature from near the surface to the middle troposphere is about 0.5-2degreesC higher than normal in the southeastern Siberia and the East Asian coast, including eastern China, Korea, and Japan. When AO reaches its negative phase, an opposite scenario can be observed. The results also indicate that winter SH has no significant effects on climate variations in Arctic and the North Atlantic sector. Its influence intensity and extent are obviously weaker than AO, exhibiting a 'local, feature in contrast to AO. This study further reveals the possible mechanism of how the winter AO is related to winter SH. It is found that winter SH variation is closely related to both dynamic processes and air temperature variations from the surface to the middle troposphere. The western SH variation mainly depends on dynamic processes, while its eastern part is more closely related to air temperature variation. The maintaining of winter SH mainly depends on downward motion of airflow of the nearly entire troposphere. The airflow originates from the North Atlantic sector, whose variation is influenced by the AO. When AO is in its positive (negative) phase, downward motion remarkably weakened (strengthened), which further influences winter SH. In addition, winter AO exhibits significant influences on the simultaneous sea-ice extent in the Barents Sea.

Impacts of the Autumn Arctic Sea Ice on the Intraseasonal Reversal of the Winter Siberian High

During 1979–2015, the intensity of the Siberian high(SH) in November and December–January(DJ) is frequently shown to have an out-of-phase relationship, which is accompanied by opposite surface air temperature and circulation anomalies.Further analyses indicate that the autumn Arctic sea ice is important for the phase reversal of the SH. There is a significantly positive(negative) correlation between the November(DJ) SH and the September sea ice area(SIA) anomalies. It is suggested that the reduction of autumn SIA induces anomalous upward surface turbulent heat flux(SHF), which can persist into November, especially over the Barents Sea. Consequently, the enhanced eddy energy and wave activity flux are transported to mid and high latitudes. This will then benefit the development of the storm track in northeastern Europe. Conversely, when downward SHF anomalies prevail in DJ, the decreased heat flux and suppressed eddy energy hinder the growth of the storm track during DJ over the Barents Sea and Europe. Through the eddy–mean flow interaction, the strengthened(weakened)storm track activities induce decreased(increased) Ural blockings and accelerated(decelerated) westerlies, which makes the cold air from the Arctic inhibited(transported) over the Siberian area. Therefore, a weaker(stronger) SH in November(DJ) occurs downstream. Moreover, anomalously large snowfall may intensify the SH in DJ rather than in November. The ensemble-mean results from the CMIP5 historical simulations further confirm these connections. The different responses to Arctic sea ice anomalies in early and middle winter set this study apart from earlier ones.

Enhancement of Winter Arctic Warming by the Siberian High over the Past Decade

In recent decades the Arctic surface air temperature(SAT) in autumn has been increasing steadily. In winter, however, instead of a linear trend, the Arctic SAT shows an abrupt change that occurred in 2004. During the years from 1979 to 2003, the first principle component(PC1) of winter Arctic SAT remains stable, and no significant increasing trend is detected. However, the PC1 changes abruptly from negative to positive phase in the winter of 2004. The enhanced Siberian high may have contributed to this abrupt change because the temporal evolution of Arctic temperature correlates significantly with sea level pressure variation in the northern Eurasian continent, and the atmospheric circulation anomaly related to the Siberian high from 2004 to 2013 favors a warmer Arctic. With the help of the meridional wind anomaly around the Siberian high, warmer air is transported to the high latitudes and therefore increases the Arctic temperature.

Comparative transcriptome analysis identifies differentially expressed genes between normal and late-blooming Siberian apricot

Blooming date is an important trait in fruit tree species.Although several quantitative trait loci confirming blooming date were identified in Prunus spp.,the molecular mechanism underlying it remains unclear.Arising from this,the transcriptomes of normal blooming and lateblooming Siberian apricot(P.sibirica L.)flower buds were analyzed using RNA-seq technology.A total of 68,855 unigenes were de novo assembled,among which 1204 were differentially expressed between normal and late blooming.Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that biological processes were enriched with metabolic processes.The catalytic-related gene transcripts between the two types of blooming were significantly changed in the molecular function.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that 156 genes were successfully annotated and 75 pathways enriched.Genes for gibberellin biosynthesis were up-regulated in normal blooming,whereas abscisic acid degradation-related genes were also up-regulated in normal blooming.Moreover,circadian rhythms related genes including EARLY FLOWERING 4,LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL and CIRCANDIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 were all up-regulated in normal blooming,indicating that circadian rhythms have a very important role in controlling blooming date.Furthermore,zinc finger protein CONSTANS-LIKE 12 was blasted onto the quantitative trait loci region on linkage group 4 in peach.However,changes in the abundance of key flowering genes such as SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1,FLOWERING LOCU T,LEAFY and FLOWERING LOCUS C were not significantly different,indicating that further investigation should explore the function of these genes on blooming date.The outcomes of this study will provide a valuable platform for further research on the molecular mechanism of blooming date in Prunus.

Model simulations of the annual cycle of the landfast ice thickness in the East Siberian Sea

The annual cycle of the thickness and temperature of landfast sea ice in the East Siberian Sea has been examined using a one-dimensional thermodynamic model. The model was calibrated for the year August 2012-July 2013, forced using the data of the Russian weather station Kotel＇ny Island and ECMWF reanalyses. Thermal growth and decay of ice were reproduced well, and the maximum annual ice thickness and breakup day became 1.64 m and the end of July. Oceanic heat flux was 2 W.m^-2 in winter and raised to 25 W.m^-2 in summer, albedo was 0.3-0.8 depending on the surface type （snow/ice and wet/dry）. The model outcome showed sensitivity to the albedo, air temperature and oceanic heat flux. The modelled snow cover was less than 10 cm having a small influence on the ice thickness. In situ sea ice thickness in the East Siberian Sea is rarely available in publications. This study provides a method for quantitative ice thickness estimation by modelling. The result can be used as a proxy to understand the sea ice conditions on the Eurasian Arctic coast, which is important for shipping and high-resolution Arctic climate modelling.

Sources of particulate organic matter in the Chukchi and Siberian shelves: clues from carbon and nitrogen isotopes

The stable isotopic composition(δ13C andδ15N)and carbon/nitrogen ratio(C/N)of particulate organic matter(POM)in the Chukchi and East Siberian shelves from July to September,2016 were measured to evaluate the spatial variability and origin of POM.Theδ13CPOC values were in the range of−29.5‰to−17.5‰with an average of−25.9‰±2.0‰,and theδ15NPN values ranged from 3.9‰to 13.1‰with an average of 8.0‰±1.6‰.The C/N ratios in the East Siberian shelf were generally higher than those in the Chukchi shelf,while theδ13C andδ15N values were just the opposite.Abnormally low C/N ratios(<4),lowδ13CPOC(almost−28‰)and highδ15NPN(>10‰)values were observed in the Wrangel Island polynya,which was attributed to the early bloom of small phytoplankton.The contributions of terrestrial POM,bloom-produced POM and non-bloom marine POM were estimated using a three end-member mixing model.The spatial distribution of terrestrial POM showed a high fraction in the East Siberian shelf and decreased eastward,indicating the influence of Russian rivers.The distribution of non-bloom marine POM showed a high fraction in the Chukchi shelf with the highest fraction occurring in the Bering Strait and decreased westward,suggesting the stimulation of biological production by the Pacific inflow in the Chukchi shelf.The fractions of bloom-produced POM were highest in the winter polynya and gradually decreased toward the periphery.A negative relationship between the bloom-produced POM and the sea ice meltwater inventory was observed,indicating that the net sea ice loss promotes early bloom in the polynya.Given the high fraction of bloom-produced POM,the early bloom of phytoplankton in the polynyas may play an important role on marine production and POM export in the Arctic shelves.

Siberian silkmoth outbreaks surpassed geoclimatic barrier in Siberian Mountains

Siberian silkmoth(SSM,Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv.)is the most important defoliator of Siberian pine(Pinus sibirica Du Tour)and fir(Abies sibirica Ledeb.)stands.Warming-induced SSM outbreaks are one of the major driving factors of successions within the taiga zone.It is suggested that climate change impacted the SSM range and life cycle.We analyzed the migration of alpine and northerly SSM outbreak boundaries in Siberia and the impact of the climate variables and topography on the outbreak dynamics.We used time-series scenes(multispectral data,and vegetation indexes EVI and NDII)in combination with field studies,climate variables,and GIS techniques.We found that SSM outbreaks in the area of alpine boundary shifted about 370 m uphill since the mid of 1950.The outbreak onset was promoted by increased dryness and active temperatures and decreased root zone moisture content in the spring-early summer period.The terrain topography strongly affected SSM outbreak onset and dynamics.Initially,the outbreak was located at the middle elevations on the gentle concave southeastern slopes,which are the favorable insect habitats between outbreaks.Then the outbreak expanded uphill and downhill,to steeper slopes,and both concave and convex terrains.Alongside with elevation range expansion,SSM surpassed its northern historical outbreak boundary:the potential outbreaks’boundary moved about 300 km northward.Climate warming contributes to SSM migration into former outbreak free conifer stands located in highlands and at northern latitudes.

Population sizes and group characteristics of Siberian Crane(Leucogeranus leucogeranus) and Hooded Crane(Grus monacha) in Poyang Lake Wetland

Both the Siberian Crane(Leucogeranus leucogeranus) and Hooded Crane(Grus monacha) have limited population sizes and are considered endangered by domestic Chinese and international agencies.To document the current size of their respective populations and characterize their groups,between October 2012 and April 2013 we undertook fieldwork at four nature reserve areas within the Poyang Lake wetlands.We divided Poyanghu National Nature Reserve(PYH) into the Wucheng(PWC) and Hengfeng areas(PHF),because each are each located in different counties.Our fieldwork showed that the Siberian Crane occurred mainly in PYH(364 in the PHF,158 in the PWC) and the Nanjishan Wetland National Nature Reserve(NJS,with 200 individuals).The Hooded Crane was mainly distributed in PYH(302 in the PHF and 154 in the PWC).Family groups accounted for more than 50% of the total number of groups among both species,with Hooded Cranes forming more family groups than Siberian Cranes.Typically,these groups were formed of two adults with one offspring(Siberian Crane),and two adults with two offspring(Hooded Crane),with the mean family group size of the Siberian Crane and Hooded Crane being respectively 2.65±0.53(n=43) and 3.09±0.86(n=47) individuals per group.The mean collective group size of the Siberian Crane and Hooded Crane included 28.09±24.94(n=23) and 28.94±27.97(n=16) individuals per group,respectively,with the proportion of juveniles among Hooded Cranes being more than double that seen among the Siberian Cranes.

Alpine ecotone in the Siberian Mountains:vegetation response to warming

Birch(Betula tortuosa)is one of the treeline forming species within the Siberian Mountains.We analysed the area dynamics of birch stands and the upslope climb of birch treeline based on the Landsat time series scenes and on-ground data.We found that since the warming onset(1970th)birch area increased by 10%,birch stands and treeline boundary were moving upslope with a rate of 1.4 m/yr and 4.0 m/yr.Birch upslope shift correlated with air temperatures at the beginning(May-June)and the end(August-October)of the growth period.Meanwhile,no correlation was found between birch upslope migration and precipitation.Winds negatively influenced both birch area growth and birch upslope climb during spring,fall,and wintertime.In the windy habitats,birch,together with larch and Siberian pine,formed clusters(hedges)which mitigated the influence of adverse winds.These clusters are the adaptive pattern for trees’upslope climb within windward slopes.The other adaptation to the harsh alpine ecotone habitat is non-leaf(bark)photosynthesis which supports tree survival.Thereby,Betula tortuosa upslope climb depends on the wind impact and warming in spring and fall that extended growth period.With ongoing warming and observed wind speed decrease on the background of sufficient precipitation,it is expected to further birch advance into alpine tundra in the Siberian Mountains.

Siberian Fan Reliefs and the Tunguska Cosmic Body

Unusual reliefs on the Earth’s surface were found in aerial photographs of Eastern Siberia in the late 20th century. The facts justifying the connection are given by Siberian Fan Reliefs and the Tunguska Cosmic Body. It is most natural to assume that we are dealing with the falling of numerous fragments of a collapsed comet. The more likely version is that the comet is captured by the Earth-Moon system and remains in Earth orbit for some time.

Siberian Fan Reliefs

Unusual reliefs on the Earth’s surface were found in aerial photographs of Eastern Siberia in the late 20th century. These reliefs consist of several tens (up to hundreds) of stripes that have arisen as a result of the destruction of vegetation and the surface layer of the ground. Structures of stripes are extended, ranging in size from 6 km to ≥20 km, with a width of several kilometers. Every strip (scratch on the ground) is roughly estimated to be up to 50 m wide and ≥500 m long. The stripes start from one edge of the relief and stretch at inter-vals to the other, slightly diverging symmetrically from the central axis. It was determined that these reliefs are not associated with the movement of soil (avalanches, mudflows) or with the impact of air currents (hurricanes, storm, tornado). Geographically, these struc-tures of stripes are located within a circle with a radius of 770 km, described around the epicenter of the Tunguska catastrophe.

Palaeoproterozoic High-metamorphic Metasedimentary Units of Siberian Craton

In this paper,I report SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages of Paleoproterozoic high-grade metasedimentary rocks from southwestern part of the Siberian Craton.Early Precambrian high-grade complex including garnet -biotite,hypersthene-biotite and cordierite-bearing gneisses compose the Irkut terrane of the Sharyzhalgay Uplift.Protoliths of studied

The use of artificial nest boxes by Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) in South Korea

In this study, we examined the use of artificial nest boxes by Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) in three coniferous and mixed forests in Gangwon Province, South Korea. Six hundred and twelve boxes with different sized entry holes (ranging from 3 to 7 cm in diameter) were placed in the forests between 2004 and 2009. Pteromys volans used nine boxes in the coniferous forests and two boxes in the mixed forests. The squirrels only used boxes with entrance holes measuring 3.5, 4, and 5 cm in diameter, showing a strong and moderate preference for boxes with 5 and 4-cm holes, respectively, and a strong avoidance for boxes with 3- and 7-cm holes. Therefore, we suggest placing artificial nest boxes with entrance holes 5 cm in diameter to encourage breeding activity. Most nests made in the artificial boxes were composed of fibrous materials from woody vines. We recommend placing artificial nest boxes with holes of 5-cm diameter in coniferous forests, which support dense populations of P. volans, to survey whether this approach would positively affect the breeding habits and population maintenance of this species.

RAISING SIBERIAN TIGERS IN CAPTIVTTY IN NORTHEAST CHINA

The Breeding Center of Felidac Animals was founded in Hengdaohezi.Heilongjiangprovince in 1986.This paper resents the methods and observauons of practices in feeding,mating,breeding,study and management of a captive population of siberian tigers at the center.Since the es-tablishment of the program,the initial population of 5 males and 15 females has been increased to 48tigers.In the past 3 years.37 cubs were born and 28 survived.The averagc litter size was 2.6 in 1988and 2.8 in 1989.Methods of feeding mating and raising are continualluy modified according to obser-vations,experimental comparisons and program development.This program templ to conserve and renaturalize this rare and preeious species.

Effects of deforestation on microbial diversity in a Siberian larch(Larix sibirica) stand in Mongolia

For evaluating microbial community changes in a Siberian larch stand disturbed by forest fire or clearcutting,357 clones were randomly selected and sequenced using a culture-independent approach and 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the bacterial composition and diversity from the different disturbed Siberian larch stands.Interestingly,the burned larch stand had an increase in the relative amounts of b-proteobacteria and Firmicutes and a decrease in Acidobacteria,while Gemmatimonadetes increased Verrucomicrobia decreased in the harvested larch stand.Microbial diversity and richness were higher in the undisturbed larch stand than the disturbed(burned or clear-cut)larch stands,and the influence of clear-cutting was more negative than that of the forest fire.This study indicates that evaluating the microbial diversity of undisturbed,burned,and clear-cutting Siberian larch stands provides information about the impact of forest disturbances on soil microbial communities,which may be helpful for understanding and evaluating soil health and devising reafforestation strategies for larch.